Attaching-hook for tape-measures



(No Model.) L. E. MARTIN.

ATTAGHING HOOK FOR TAPE MEASURES. v No. 370,636. Patented Sept. 27, 1887.

To all whom it may concern.-

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIGE.

LUTHER E. MARTIN, E BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

ATTACHlNG-HOOK FOR TAPE-MEASURES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 370,636, dated September 27, 1887.

Application filed March 10, 1887.

Be it known that I, LUTHER E. MARTIN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tape-Measures, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention pertains to certain new anduseful improvements in tape-measures; and it consists in the detailed construction, combination, and arrangement of the parts, substantially as hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view of a tape-measure with my invention applied thereto, and Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view thereof.

The object of my invention is to provide means for securing the end of a tape-measure at a certainpoint from where the measurement is to be made, and at the same time to insure accuracy in said measurement.

In carrying out my invention to accomplish theabove object I employ a fiat metallic plate, A, which has two right-angular projecting arms, a a, and a short distance from said end said' plate is provided with two oblong slots or apertures, a, separated by a small crossbar, a, as shown in Fig. 2. To attach this plate to the end of the tape-line, the latter is placed on one end of said plate, and is passed through the slots or apertures a and around the bar a The end of the tape-line is then secured by bending over and pressing down thereon the right-angular projecting arms a,

thus securely attaching the plate to the said tape-line. To this plate are secured in any desired manner two sharp-pointed teeth or prongs, b b, the same being preferably formed of a single piece of Wire, the central or coiled portion of which is soldered to the'upper surface of the plate in such manner as to cause the teeth or prongs to project down over the edge of said plate. The forward edge or end of this plate is bent into a hook, B,which projects in an opposite direction to the teeth or prongs before described.

Serial No. 230,410. (No model.)

From what has been said it will be seen that by forcing the teeth or prongs 1) into the floor, wall, or other ,surface that it is desired to .measure, the end of the tapeline will be securely held, and by permitting the unwinding of the tape in the casing or boxing O the measurement can be effected. The plate Ais so formed that the distance from the teeth or prongs and the hook B to the rear edge of said plate is exactly one inch, thereby preventing any inaccuracy in measurement consequent upon an irregularity in the tape-line at the end secured to the said plate.

The hook B, above referred to, is intended for use of plumbers, tinners, and the like, in obtaining the measurement of pipes, spouting, &c., thus obviating the difficulty heretofore experienced in always having some person at hand to hold the end of the tape to secure acpcurate measurement.

An ordinary metallic cap is generally employed to incase the sharp-pointed teeth or prongs b,to prevent the same from tearing the pocket of the person carrying the tape-measure.

Having thus fully described my invention, what'I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with a tape-measure, of the plate having right-angular projecting arms and oblong slots or apertures separated by a crossbar, teeth or prongs-b b, and hook B, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination, with a tape-measure, of the plate having right-angular projecting arms and oblong slots or apertures for the tape, separated by a cross-bar, and the teeth or prongs, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

W. M. STRAYER, J r., OHAs. H. MARTIN. 

